Metal awnings



.Fufly 3, 1956 H. M. HELT ET AL METAL AWNINGS Filed April 6, 1953 IINVENTOR.

HERBER T M 5 50 9 Hm IPFEIL LMAA/ ATTOBNEY United States A atent METALAWNINGS Appiication April 6, 1953, Serial No. 346,824 2 Claims. (Cl.20--57.5)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a metal awning,such as an aluminum awning, but may also be applied to awnings made ofother metals or other materials, such as plastic or wood. 7

Recently, metal awnings have come into wide-spread use. However, metalawnings of commonly known construction have certain disadvantages whichhave provided serious objections. For example, metal awnings of the typecomprising top and bottom pans whose sides overlap ar generallyassembled and maintained in proper relationship by fastening means, suchas screws, bolts or supporting strips. Such fastening means have theinherent disadvantage of necessitating drilling of holes through the topand bottom pans which tend to promote leakage therethrough of rainwater. Also such fastening means are generally flimsy or of very limitedmechanical strength, therefore providing weak points in the general Infact, metal awnings of tioned weaknesses, placement.

A still further disadvantage of well known types of metal awnings isthat their suming for the workman.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel holes providedfor such fastemng means, and thus which assures complete protectionagainst leakage of rain or snow.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide animproved metal awning comprising top and bottom pans which haveinterlocked flanges which provide an amazing increase in mechanicalstrength and rigidity of the awning, such as to practically eliminatethe possibility of being blown apart by severe wind storms.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a metalawning assembly, including top and bottom pans which are of such shapeas to be simple in construction and inexpensively manufactured, alsowhich can be easily and quickly assembled, therefore which greatlyreducesv manufacturing cost.

' 'Otherobjects and advantages of our invention will be embodying theprinciples of our invention, a portion is cut away to more clearlyillustrate the framework.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, transverse, cross-sectional View taken alongline 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view similar toFigure 2 but showing spaced apart the interlocking flanges of the topand bottom pans.

Figure 4 is a similar view of a modified form of the flange constructionof the top pan, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged, transverse, cross-sectional view taken on line55 of Figure l and more clearly showing the wall flashing and capflashing assembly.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawing, it will be notedthat the framework for the metal awning shown comprises sidecross-strips or projections i, of substantially L shaped cross-section,and metal rafters 2 of similar cross-section, extending angularly of thecross-strips. Metal spaces therebetween to allow the escape of air thatwould otherwise be trapped under the awning.

Also forming a part of the framework is a wall flashing 7, extendingacross the top ends of the rafters and adapted to be secured to andsealed to a wall by caulking or sealing compound. The wall flashing isof substantially channel shape cross-section and has a horizontal topflange integrally extending at right angles to the vertical wallengaging flange thereof. To such top flange is fastened a cap flashing 8by means of metal screws 9 wall flashing. Thus any possibility ofleakage of rain water through such present top and bottom pan assembly.Toppan 11,

for example, is provided with side flanges,

each having an inwardly bent portion 11a and an adjoining downwardly andoutwardly flanged central portion 11b and an inwardly bent end portionlie. The bottom pan 12 has similar portions 12a, 12b, 12c respectively.It will be apparent from a study of Figures 2 and 3 that when the topand bottom pans are in assembled relationship the inwardly bent endportions of the bottom pan 12 will fit into the inwardly bent portionslid of the top pan, whereas the inwardly bent end portions 110 of thetop pan flange will fit into the inwardly bent portion 12a of the bottompan. Thus the flanges of the top and bottom pans will become securelyinterlocked and prevent any possibility of relative vertical movemcitt.

Figure 4 shows a modification of the invention wherein the bottom pans 12 are identical in construction to those shown in Figures 2 and 3 butwherein the top pans are provided with straight flanges 11d whichterminate in inwardly bent end portions 11 which fit into the inwardlybent portion 120, Of the bottom pan to provide interlock ing engagement.7

The top and bottom pans are assembled in the following manner. First apair of spat ed bottom pans are placed on the upper flange of runner 13,flanges 12a of the bottom pans being slipped underneath a Pair ofoppositely directed tabs or lugs 14. A top pan is then placed so as tostraddle the bottom pans and so that its downwardly extending flangeswill become interlocked with the upwardly extending flanges of thebottom pans. The tabs 14 are then bent downwardly so as to tightlyengage the inwardly bent or flanged portions 12a of the bottom pans.Thereafter an adjoining pair of top and bottom pans is assembled in asimilar manner, that is, the pans or covers are assembled in succession.And as they are assembled they are pulled tightly toward the unassembledside to firmly interlock the flanges thereof into snug and tightengagement.

Although'only one runner 13 is shown, it will be apparent thatadditional runners may be employed having similar tabs 14 for engagingthe flanged or bent portions of the bottom pans, particularlyfor awningsof large areas or span.

The lower end portions of the top. and bottom pans which are bent so as,to. extend vertically downward are also in interlocking relationship.Thus the flanges of the top and bottom pans, are securely interlockedthroughout their entire lengths to provide continuous reinforcement andso as to add greatly to the mechanical strength of the awning.

While two forms of interlocked flanges have been described, other shapesof side flanges for the top and bottom pans may be provided, or otherinterlocking portions may be struck from said flanges, to. provide thenecessary interlocking of these flanges and to prevent their relativemovement in a generally vertical direction.

While the awning has been described as being made of metal, such asaluminum, it should be noted that the awning or parts thereof, such asthe top and bottom pans, may be of plastic material or wood or othersuitable material, instead.

While the top and bottom pan and supporting structure is described inconnection with an awning, it will be readily apparent that it is alsouseful in the case of metal umbrellas of the common design, wherein thevarious pans extend radially outwardly from a center, progressivelyincreasing in width in an outward direction, or it may be applied to.canopies and other similar sun, rain or snow protective or shieldingstructures.

Thus it will be seen that we have provided an efficient metal awning, orsimilar structure, wherein the top and botom pans forming the coveringsurface of the awning are supported and held together without thenecessity of screws, bolts, ppo ti g p or other fasteni e n thereforewhich eliminates the tendency of leakage through the holes otherwisenecessary for such fastening means, and which eliminates the points ofmechanical weakness provided by such fastening means; furthermore, wehave provided a novel flange construction, or design, for top and bottompans of an awning which may be securely interlocked to provide anamazing increase in rigidity and strength of the awning assembly byvirtue of the mutual reinforcement provided by the adjoining flangesthroughout their entire length instead of at spaced intervals:furthermore we have provided a metal awning having parts of simpleconstruction which are inexpensive to manufacture, and which may be veryeasily and quickly assembled, in a manner to provide an amazing increasein strength and great reduction in cost of manufacture as compared tometal awnings of conventional construction.

While we have illustrated and described scvcral cinbodiments of ourinvention, it will be understood that these are by way of illustrationonly, and that various nge nd mod fication may be mad within the coumplio o ou n en ion an within the scope of he following claims.

We claim:

n a n n ompr n a n f r-m d or alterna rlappin op a d bott m, l nstudinally t ng, sub tantia ly hannel. hapcdpans s op ng n a down rd.dire ti n, and arranged in spaced, Staggered e at ip, the top pan havingupper, hor-i on a at W b p ti n nd having ownwardly and inly nding dflange p rtions, th ottom pans ng o r, horizont l, fiat eb p iuns, ply,ina d y b id an portion ex ending substantially horizontally rom he argn of the web por ions of said bottom P n erminating n upwardly ex endingPortions of S-shaped cross-section, a framework for said awning ncl di ga r n er ely exten in cross-pla ate:- directly supporting the flat webportions of said bottom pans, said cross-piece including integralupwardly struck; tabs n ing ub t n l y ho izontal y. an in en rnent withthe upper surfaces of said sharply, inwardly bent side flange portionsfor securing the bottom pans to Said -pi v th inwardly ext ding portionsof sai p pa s n ng into he fo d f sai sharp y, n ardly bent side flangeportions to reinforce it and to yieldingly clip the top and bottom pansin interlocking engagement.

2. An awning comprising atop cevering surfaceformed of alternate,overlapping, top and. bottom, longitudinal y. d ng, sub n l y ch nnelshap d n usl n us n downward direction and arranged in spaced, staggeredl h p v the op pans av n pper hor zontal, lin web portions and havingdownwardly extending flanges of S-shaped cross section, the bottom panshaving lower, horizontal web portions and sharply, inwardly bent sideflange portions extending from the, margins oitho web portions of said bttom pans and terminating in upwardly extending portions, also of=shaped cross section, such as to snugly engage the side flanges of thebottom pans, throughout their entire height and thereby form acontinuous, double layered side flange construction, the-top and bottompans being of identical cross-section so as to be interchangeable, aframework for supporting saidbottom pans, said framework includingfastening means extending o the p urfa thereof for secur ly engagingsaid sharply inwardly extending side flanges of the bottom pans, wherebysaid top and bottom pans arc yieldingly clipped in interlocking, andstrongly reinforcing engagement throughout the entirety of the surfacesof the side flanges of the top and bottom pans.

' co er ng urface References Cited in the file of this patent U TESTATES P TENTS 2,095,434 Calkins-et al. Oct. 12', 1937' 2,428,361 Doe0ot.'7, 1941' 2,611,935 Kramer et al. s Sept1'30, 1952 2,619,691 BottomDeal, 1952 2,639,477 Freeman May 26,- 1953

